S . M . Entertainment Trainee Contract 2013
This page shall serve as our agreement between S . M Entertainment ( hereinafter referred to as the ‘ Producer ’) offering training and possible recording services to you ______________ ( hereinafter referred to as the “ Artist ”). The agreement shall commence as of the date hereof and shall continue until the completion of the Producers services . As a S . M Entertainment Kpop trainee you must fully acknowledge and follow the terms and conditions of this contract .
Terms & Conditions : CONTRACT & FEES 1 . This contract is effective for thirteen ( 13 ) years , ending 8th November 2026 , whether or not the artist has been successfully debuted or not . 2 . A $ 20,000 fee will be charged to any single member of the group who may wish to terminate their contract early . 3 . S . M Entertainment will fund up to $ 500,000 per group member before and during their debut , however this will need to be paid back to S . M Management after a group / solo artist debutes .
TRAINING 1 . Training days will be Monday-Saturday , each day will be fourteen ( 14 ) hours 2 . Training MUST be attended at all times 3 . Training will consist of gym activities , singing , choreography , swimming ,
Korean / English language lessons and acting lessons .
LIFESTYLE ARRANGEMENTS 1 . Food and accommodation will be supplied free of charge throughout the duration of your training period .
You will live with the members of your group or with other training solo artists . 2 . Only breakfast and healthy snacks are allowed , drinking water after 7pm is forbidden to reduce bloating 3 . You will be given a new ( stage ) name , you must only answer to this name 4 . You must only be heard speaking Korean in public 5 . Socializing is only allowed on Sundays ( free day ), this will only be with your other group members or those of management . 6 . You MUST refer to male members of your management team as ‘ APPA ’ ( father ) and ‘ UMMA ’ ( mother ) for female members of your management team . 7 . You will be given a minder 24 / 7 hours a day , they will accompany you at all times , including W / C visits in public . 8 . Sunglasses MUST be worn at all times when in public to prevent tiredness ( pre-double eyelid procedures if applicable )
S . M Entertainment reserves the right to : 1 . Remove personal phones from artists and replace with a single phone for kpop group use 2 . De-activate all personal social media platforms of the artist ( s ) 3 . Prevent all romantic relationships until after debuting with S . M Entertainment 4 . Allow make-up to be applied by the artist ( s ), this will only be done professionally and when applicable . 5 . Choose a ‘ middle or front ’ girl / boy of the group , this individual will be heavily promoted and the face of the group 6 . Monitor and control the diets of the artist ( s ) if applicable 7 . Send artist ( s ) to cosmetic surgery consultations if applicable
It is hereby agreed that I ( the artist ( s )) agree to all points stated in this contract and wish to begin the training contract with S . M Entertainment .
Signed : S . M Entertainment Head Producer : _______________ Artist ( s ): _______________
Interview with AProf Stephen Epstein, Korean Culture Specialist
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Western Korean Illustration Used
By Rachael Joo and Stephen Epstein